Can I Still Apply for a Green Card?

If you apply from outside the country, your total cost will be $1,200. If you apply from within the country, your total cost will be $1,760. The total cost of this process varies depending on whether you apply from within or outside the United States. Ideally, you should start the renewal process at least 6 months before the expiration date.
However, it is possible for you to retain aos attorney permanent resident status and even achieve citizenship after you divorce a U.S. citizen. The Immigration and Nationality Act governs immigration in the United States. For the part of the law concerning conditional permanent resident status based on marriage, please see section 216 of the act. The specific eligibility requirements and procedures for removing conditions on permanent resident status are included in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 8 CFR section 216. Once your marriage-based Green Card is approved, our services extend to helping you understand and navigate the responsibilities and benefits of your new status.

See our full list of documents required for a marriage green card. Processing time for this adjustment may vary, and additional steps or requirements may apply based on individual circumstances. The spouse visa USA path reunites families every day. Then consider hiring an immigration attorney if you have not already. Also, legal help improves your chances on appeal or reapplication. We offer comprehensive services for Green Card through marriage cases.
And How to Apply for Provisional Waiver of 3- or 10-Year Time Bar for details. The U.S. government would prefer that everyone complete the green-card application process outside the United States, at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country. Community groups and legal aid organizations are stepping up to help, offering workshops and free consultations to guide families through the new process.
If a complication arises in the application process, a green card attorney can advocate on your behalf. An attorney can communicate with an immigration officer to address contentious issues for a positive outcome. The immigration regulations keep changing from time to time. A green card lawyer brings an invaluable legal understanding and policy updates, ensuring your application is complete, accurate, and submitted on time. Navigating the immigration system and laws presents an incredible challenge.

If you've been married for less than 2 years while your spouse is granted permanent resident status, your spouse is conditionally given permanent resident status. After you’ve been married for a certain period of time, you and your spouse will apply together to remove the conditions of residence using Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence. After a successful removal of conditions, your foreign spouse will become an official green card holder. If your marriage takes place overseas and you wish to bring your spouse to live in the United States, you must first file a marriage green card. A marriage green card or a marriage based Immigrant Visa must be filed by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident no matter where you get married. On the other hand, a marriage with a U.S. citizen, the spouse is considered an “immediately relative” of the U.S. citizen spouse.
Additionally, evidence of a bona fide marriage must be provided, including joint financial records, lease or mortgage agreements, photos together, and affidavits from friends and family. Detailed biographic and background information about both spouses is also required, typically including birth certificates, passports, and any previous immigration records. Providing thorough and accurate documentation helps ensure a smoother application process and demonstrates the legitimacy of the marriage to USCIS. A foreign spouse may obtain a conditional green card (if married less than two years at approval) through marriage.

If applying as the spouse of a permanent legal resident, you usually would not be able to submit both two forms concurrently. Additionally, more requirements need to be met for a spouse of a green card holder, who is applying in the U.S. – so it’s very important that you get proper legal advice before you do so. The person applying for the marriage green card is referred to as the beneficiary or the green card applicant. The citizen spouse or green card holder spouse is referred to as the petitioner or sponsor. At Law Offices of Jeffrey A. Thompson, we understand that facing USCIS adjustment of status interview questions can be daunting. The interview is a critical step in your journey to becoming a permanent resident.
“We’re returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly. From now on, an alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances. This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivizing loopholes.
A marriage visa allows your spouse to enter the U.S. legally in order for you to begin building a life together. While “marriage visa” and “marriage green card” are often used interchangeably, there's a key distinction. What kind of evidence should we provide for our application?

Processing times vary depending on USCIS workload, the service center handling the case, and whether adjustment of status or consular processing is used. Here are the basic steps involved in securing a marriage-based green card for your foreign spouse. Conversely, a marriage green card grants permanent residency in the U.S. to the spouse of a citizen or current green card holder.
For the US citizen or Green Card holder sponsor, you need these papers. Green Card through marriage works for same-sex couples too. Processing times vary significantly by USCIS service center/field office or consulate, case type, and workload, so always check the most current official estimates before filing. If you have any questions, please email our team directly at For example, if you’ve gone on vacation with your spouse, potential documents for you to include are pictures of you and your spouse together while on vacation.

Fifth, keep copies of all your immigration documents, approval notices, interview notices, and supporting evidence in a safe and accessible place. If your case is selected for re-review, having your documentation readily available will be essential. Regardless of mode of entry, some immigrants are lucky enough to be eligible for adjustment of status under two unusual circumstances.
This fee is non-refundable and must be paid when you submit  your application. A non-citizen marrying a U.S. citizen can lead to many questions related to immigration. Does this make one eligible to apply for a Green Card? Can an individual automatically live and work in the United States after the wedding?